Two countries– Spain and Sweden- secured their place in the semi-finals of the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023 in Wellington on Friday, 11 August.
Spain scored a 2-1 to overpower the 2019 finalists Netherlands.
It is the first time in the nation’s history that they have made the final four of a FIFA Women’s World Cup.
Also read: Women’s World Cup: Japan, Spain through to Quarterfinals
The game remained goalless until the 81st minute when Spain were awarded a penalty, and Mariona Caldentey stepped up to convert it.
It seemed as if the one goal would be enough to send Spain through to the semi-finals, until Stefanie van der Gragt found the back of the net in stoppage time to force the game to extra time.
The first half of extra time saw little action, and it wasn’t until the 111th minute that Spain’s Salma Paralluelo fired home the winner to send her nation into the tournament’s final four.
Spain will now face either Japan or Sweden in a bid to make their first ever FIFA Women’s World Cup final.
Despite dominating possession and racking up a total of 28 chances, it still took Spain until the second half of extra time to secure their fate.
As 19-year-old Salma Paralluelo, who was substituted on in the 70th minute, unleashed the strike that would fire Spain through to their first ever Women’s World Cup semi-finals, she etched her name in history.
Spain had dominated throughout the 110 minutes prior to Paralluelo’s goal, but as USWNT and Nigeria’s respective Round of 16 fixtures showed us – it isn’t always the dominant team that comes out on top.
This time however, it was.
And even when Stefanie van der Gragt gave Netherlands a lifeline in the first minute of added time, Spain’s heads didn’t drop.
Instead they regrouped and headed into extra time with an air of confidence that this tie was still very much theirs to win.
It was a deserved victory for Spain, as Netherlands lacked the quality and composure to match that of La Roja.
Also, Sweden booked their place in the semi-finals of the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023 with a 2-1 win over 2011 world champions Japan on Friday (11 August).
Japan were the last remaining side to have previously won the FIFA Women’s World Cup, which now means that we will have a completely new world champion in 2023.
Amanda Ilestedt opened the scoring in the 32nd minute of the quarter-final in Auckland to further strengthen her Golden Boot campaign. The 30-year-old has now secured four goals and one assist this tournament, putting her in third place for the top scorer award behind France’s Kadidiatou Diani and Japan’s Hinata Miyazawa.
Shortly after the break, Sweden were given the chance to double their lead.
After a Japanese defensive mix-up, Sweden were awarded a penalty for handball, and it was Manchester City midfielder Filippa Angeldal who stepped up and converted from the spot.
Japan were then given a similar opportunity in the 76th minute with a penalty of their own as Riko Ueki went down in the box.
The Japanese number 9 picked herself up to take the spot kick, but blasted the shot onto the bar and the Japanese couldn’t force the rebound chances over the line.
In the dying minutes of the game, however, Japan got onto the scoresheet. Substitute Honoka Hayashi fired her shot home to make it 2-1.
With 10 minutes of added time, it suddenly seemed possible that Japan could salvage something, but despite Sweden’s sudden shakiness, they managed to hold on to secure a spot in the FIFA Women’s World Cup semi-finals.
The Swedes will now go on to face Spain in Auckland on Tuesday (15 August) for a place in the final.
